Los Angeles daily herald., 1887-10-22
HEAVY DAMAGES.
A Jury Bring I'm n Verdict Tor

A Jury Bring I'm n Verdict for
enc Dollar.
In Department Three of the Supe-
rior Court, yesterday, p. Ganee, editor
and proprietor of the L Union Nourelle,
French publication of this city,
claimed $4,000 damages for injuries in
hicted by Geo. L. Mesnager, on the
18th of January last.
The case came up before Judge
O'Melveny at 1OA. NJ. Several wit
nesses were examined, and the tcsti-
mony of Ganee and Mesnager, the
plaintiff and defendant in tine action,
respectively, is as follows:
Ganee was sworn, and stated that
he had been resident of this city for
ten years and had during that time
been editor of the l. Union Nourelle.
He was in Judge Austin's court on the
18th of last May and saw Mesnager
there. but had no difficulty with him
there, but after leaving the court,
when he had arrived near the corner
of Spring and Second streets Mesnager
had assaulted him violently, striking
him on the back of the neck,
and he came near falling, when
ne was caught by-a friend and he
turned and saw Mesnager and knew
that the blow came from him. He
Was on the point of striking again,
but was prevented. Ganee had a
book in his hand which heBthrew at
Mesnager, hitting him in the face.
The marks of the blow were visible
on his neck for week. There were a
great many people OH the street, not
only those who were passing, but
thirty or forty who were coming
from the court room, and it humili-
ated him greatly to be thus assaulted
on the street. He had given no cause.
for the blow, but was walking quietly
along the street talking with some
friends. When asked if he,had not
been attacking the character of Mes,
nager for the last four years by ar
ticles appearing in the newspaper Of
which lie was editor, he was very
evasive, but after great deal of bad
gering he answered no.
Geo. L. Mesnager the defendant, took
the stand and stated that he was resi-
dent of this city, was a native of
France, but had resided in California.
For some three or four years he had
been the subject OF bitter and un-
merited attack by Ganee through the
columns of his paper, and had bourne
it all as patiently as he could, but
patience had at last ceased to be
virtue" and he had brought suit
for libel in Judge Austin's Court, in
which he was defeated by Cameo.
Upon leaving the court he was going
down stairs when he heard loud laugh
ing and upon reaching the street saw
Ganee, who was surrounded by his
friends, who were congratulating him
upon the defeat of Mesnager, and
when he appeared all eyes were turn
ed upon him, which 80 exasperated
him that in his passion he approached
Ganee and struck him from behind to
inform him of his presence.
The blow was not strong
enough to knock him down. He was
then set upon by the friends OF Ganee,
and was rendered powerless, when
Ganee turned suddenly and struck him
in the bre lst with q tooi which must
have weighed ten pounds. tie then
said to Ganee: "You have got the
best of me this time, suppose we have
a fight, and if you whip me it is all
right" to which Ganee made no re-
ply, but walked away with his friends.
Mesnager then returned to Judge
Austin and stated his offense, when he
was fined ten dollars.
The case was then argued by both
sides and submitted. The jury be-
ing out but few minutes, returned a
verdict finding for the plaintiff and as
sessing the damages at one dollar.